November 14, 2022

Meet Marie Morris, MD

Hand & Microsurgery Specialist 

Dr. Morris' clinical focus includes caring for adult and pediatric hand trauma with both common and complex disorders of the hand and wrist, as well as arthritic conditions of the hand and wrist.

Where are you from? 

I was born in Columbia, Missouri, but grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. It is the state capital and originally got its name from a small rock formation on the Arkansas River!

What made you choose hand and microsurgery as a specialty?

I was first exposed to orthopedic surgery as a third-year medical student when I had the opportunity to rotate with Martin Boyer, MD, and Christopher Dy, MD, MPH, (fellow at the time!). My parents are both pediatricians and I hadn’t really considered a surgical career. I loved seeing how the knowledge of anatomy could be directly applied in the operating room, and I enjoyed seeing how our interventions could improve patients’ quality of life. My interest in hand and microsurgery stems from the intricate anatomy of the hand which continues to fascinate me and the wide variety of pathologies we can treat.

What brought you (back) to Washington University Orthopedics?

I originally came to St. Louis for medical school at Washington University and stayed on for my orthopedic surgery residency before completing my hand surgery fellowship at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. The clinical and research excellence here as well as the department’s enthusiasm for teaching and mentorship are unparalleled, and I could not pass up the opportunity to come back! I also have the best partners and mentors I could ask for.

What aspect of your practice do you find most interesting or rewarding?

Being able to care for my patients is a privilege, and anytime I have a grateful patient or a patient who is able to get back to doing the things they enjoy, I find that incredibly rewarding.

Was there a past patient who made a lasting impact on you?

 I had a patient who sustained a severe injury to his hand in a dune buggy crash. He had to be flown in from several miles away and we had to re-establish the blood flow to two of his fingers and fix multiple fractures of his hand. When we had finished stabilizing everything he was left with a large, almost circumferential wound of his hand. I was able to help with soft tissue coverage of his hand with a muscle flap from his back and his hand healed. He was so grateful that we were able to save his hand, and his story reminds me of the great impact we can have on our patients' lives.

Anything new on the horizon for hand/microsurgery care?

We continue to gain an understanding of how our interventions impact our patients' clinical outcomes and not just their radiographs or objective measurements. This understanding will continue to enhance our counseling of patients when discussing treatment options with them. 

What is the best advice you ever received and who was it from? 

Ralph Waldo Emerson: What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.

“Take pride in your work.” When I was an intern, one of our chief residents, Steven Cherney, gave us this advice during our orientation. I think this is extremely important especially in our field. At the end of the day, you need to be able to stand by your work and know you’ve always given your best.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? 

I enjoy running, learning to cook, hiking trails, and exploring new local spots around St. Louis. I also enjoy traveling whenever I have the chance! I was able to travel to Portugal and Costa Rica this year and am excited to start planning my next trip.

If you weren't a physician, what would you like to be doing?

I double majored in biology and Spanish in undergrad, and I think I would be a high school teacher in one of those subjects or live abroad in a Spanish-speaking country and teach English.

Learn why patient's choose Washington University Orthopedics, request an appointment online or call (314) 514-3500.